Sandtorg
Encyclopedia
Sandtorg is a village and a former municipality
in Troms
county
in Norway
. It is located in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Harstad
.
A large feature of Sandtorg is also the mountain Sætertind, which is 1095 metres (3,592.5 ft) high and located at 68°35′12"N 16°21′38"E. Sandtorg municipality covered the eastern part of the island of Hinnøya
as well as some smaller islands in the Vågsfjorden.
: Sandþorghom). The first element comes from the word sandr which means "sandy area", and the second element means "square
". The name was frequently used for farms where there was a marketplace
.
From the early 13th century there was a trading post at Sandtorgholmen. This location became more important in the late 18th century when pilot services were added for foreign and local ships. The trading post continued to be a focal point of Sandtorg until 1945 when the Norwegian Army
's communication services took over the facilities after the German occupation
(1940–1945). The army returned Sandtorgholmen to civilian use in the 1990s. Today the Sandtorgholmen trading post features a hotel with a harbor restaurant and meeting facilities.
The municipality was established on 1 July 1926, when it was split from Trondenes
. At that time, Sandtorg had a population of 4,224. On 1 January 1964, Sandtorg was merged into the neighboring municipality of Harstad
along with Trondenes. Prior to the merger, Sandtorg had a population of 7,512.
A significant modern leader of Sandtorg was Bjarne Berg-Sæther
(born 1919). He was the mayor from 1948 until 1964. He was also the first mayor of the combined city of Trondernes, Sandtorg, and Harstad, which occurred in 1964 (and therefore also the last mayor of Sandtorg). During his 20 years after World War II
, boat building
factories at Rødskjæret were added, lighted ski tracks, and a community cultural house was built. Many of these additions caused Sandtorg's population to almost double. Today, Sandtorg is a community in transition from farming, fishing, and meat production to a commuter community with a significant part of the population working in Harstad
about 37 kilometres (23 mi) away.
Former municipalities of Norway
This is a list of former municipalities of Norway, i.e. municipalities that no longer exist.When the local council system was introduced in Norway in 1837-38, the country had 392 municipalities. In 1958 the number had grown to a total of 744 rural municipalities, 64 city municipalities as well as a...
in Troms
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
county
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is located in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Harstad
Harstad
is the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...
.
A large feature of Sandtorg is also the mountain Sætertind, which is 1095 metres (3,592.5 ft) high and located at 68°35′12"N 16°21′38"E. Sandtorg municipality covered the eastern part of the island of Hinnøya
Hinnøya
-Geography and environment:Covering an area of , it is the fourth-largest island in the country, and the largest off the mainland. The western part of the island is in the Vesterålen district, while the southwestern part is in Lofoten. As of 2006, it had a population of 31,851, of which the only...
as well as some smaller islands in the Vågsfjorden.
Name
The municipality is named after the old Sandtorg farm (Old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
: Sandþorghom). The first element comes from the word sandr which means "sandy area", and the second element means "square
Town square
A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, and town green.Most town squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets,...
". The name was frequently used for farms where there was a marketplace
Marketplace
A marketplace is the space, actual, virtual or metaphorical, in which a market operates. The term is also used in a trademark law context to denote the actual consumer environment, ie. the 'real world' in which products and services are provided and consumed.-Marketplaces and street markets:A...
.
History
Norwegian Army
Norway achieved full independence in 1905, and in the first century of its short life has contributed to two major conflicts, the Cold War and the War on Terror. The Norwegian Army currently operates in the north of Norway and in Afghanistan as well as in Eastern Europe. The Army is the oldest of...
's communication services took over the facilities after the German occupation
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
(1940–1945). The army returned Sandtorgholmen to civilian use in the 1990s. Today the Sandtorgholmen trading post features a hotel with a harbor restaurant and meeting facilities.
The municipality was established on 1 July 1926, when it was split from Trondenes
Trondenes
Trondenes is a parish and a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. It is located along the Vågsfjorden in the present-day municipality of Harstad. Trondenes includes the majority of the island of Grytøya and part of the island of Hinnøya as well as some smaller islands...
. At that time, Sandtorg had a population of 4,224. On 1 January 1964, Sandtorg was merged into the neighboring municipality of Harstad
Harstad
is the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...
along with Trondenes. Prior to the merger, Sandtorg had a population of 7,512.
A significant modern leader of Sandtorg was Bjarne Berg-Sæther
Bjarne Berg-Sæther
Bjarne Berg-Sæther was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.-Early life:He was born in Tjeldsund as the son of coastal pilot Magnar Berg-Sæther and wife Magna Toresen . He was educated in England from 1939 in languages and economics...
(born 1919). He was the mayor from 1948 until 1964. He was also the first mayor of the combined city of Trondernes, Sandtorg, and Harstad, which occurred in 1964 (and therefore also the last mayor of Sandtorg). During his 20 years after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, boat building
Boat building
Boat building, one of the oldest branches of engineering, is concerned with constructing the hulls of boats and, for sailboats, the masts, spars and rigging.-Parts:* Bow - the front and generally sharp end of the hull...
factories at Rødskjæret were added, lighted ski tracks, and a community cultural house was built. Many of these additions caused Sandtorg's population to almost double. Today, Sandtorg is a community in transition from farming, fishing, and meat production to a commuter community with a significant part of the population working in Harstad
Harstad
is the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...
about 37 kilometres (23 mi) away.